Signal for vehicles



4 1,591,502 A. ANDERSON SIGNAL FOR VEHICLES Filed 001;. 21, 1922 Patented July 6, 1926.

unrrso STATES ALFRED ANDERSON, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

SIGNAL FOR VEHICLES.

Application filed October 21, 1922.

This invention relates to signals adapted to be used on vehicles of different descriptions, and especially on automobiles for indicating the intention of the driver to turn or to execute any other control.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an improved signal device of the character described, especially adapted for displaying a signal indicating the intention to turn, and also adapted for serving as a parking light.

Another object is to embody the signal and parking light features described, in a simple and practical device which may be easily applied to a motor vehicle, and will be capable of convenient operation.

More particularly, my invention contemplates the provision of a casing adapted to be supported on and at one side of a vehicle with capacity for oscillating about a horizontally disposed axis for displaying in one position, a signal such as the word Turn, and in another position a red and a white light, the latter being directed to the rear and the former to the front of the vehicle. Such casing co-operates in a novel manner with a single light bulb, thereby promoting simplicity of construction.

Other objects and attendant advantages will be appreciated as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a vehicle signal embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; V

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the signal casing;

Fig. 4 is a view showing the inner side of the signal device and showing a moved position in dotted lines; and

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram for the light.

The casing proper carrying the signal or display elements may be of any suitable or preferred construction, and in the present intance is formed of front and rear parts designated generally by 6 and 7, respectively. Said front part of the casing comprises a front wall 8 having a central window 9, preferably red for displaying a red light when the casing is illuminated from the interior, and an annular wall 11 joined to said front wall and having diametrically-opposed red and white windows 12 and 13 respec- Serial No. 596,001.

tively, and also having intermediate said opposed windows a red window 14. Said rear part suitably fastened to the front part as by means of screws 15, may carry any of various signs or words adapted to be illuminated for displaying a signal at the rear. Letters 16 comprising the word Turn are punched out horizontally across the center of the rear part 7, and openings 17 are also punched out above and below the letters. A red glass 18 is suitably secured to the casing part 7 covering the perforated portions.

The casing is fixed to a supporting part 19, at present in the form of a tubular shaft, which in turn is mounted for oscillation in a suitable bracket 21. Said supporting part 19 disposed radially with respect to the easing in the plane of the word Turn passes through the peripheral wall 11 and is adapted to be oscillated for. the purpose of swinging the casing to and from horizontally and vertically disposed positions, in each of which to present different display windows for signal purposes.

The casing supporting member 19 may be oscillated by any suitable means, and in the present example in'which said supporting member extends through the vehicle frame 22, I mount a lever or handle 23 on the inner end of said supporting member. It will be manifest that the handle 23 may be swung in a clockwise direction for moving the easing from the vertical position shown in full lines in Fig. 4, to the horizontal position shown in dotted lines, and vice versa.

The casing will be illuminated from the interior by means of an electric light bulb 24 carried on the outer end of the casing supporting member 19, and the electric wires 25 for the light socket may extend through said member 19 to the interior of the car or to any suitable switch. I prefer to employ a switch which will be opened and closed by the action of oscillating the signal casing, so that the casing will be properly illuminated in its several signal positions. In the construction shown, the light socket wires 25 are connected to the terminal points 26, in the form of screws threaded in a collar 27 fixed to the member 19. Two pair of contact points 28 are employed for making contact with the points 26, one pair being supported in a casing 29 and the other in a casing 31,

ninety degrees apart as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. These contact points are connected as appears in Fig. 5, to a source of electric current for lighting the bulb 24. In the present instance, said contact points 28 are in the form of plungers urged by springs 82 in a direction to make contact with the'light terminal points 26 when the latter are moved into alignment with the plungers.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that when the handle 23 is in the full-line position shown, the electric bulb 2% will ibeiliglit- .edby contact of the plungerpoints 28 in the frame part 29'with the tcrminalpoints 26, thereby illuminating I the: signal ""Furn in the rear wall and theredlightt) .in the front wall, andthat upon swinging the handle 23 in. a clockwise direction viewing. :Fig. 1-, the windows 12 and 13 will bemoved to a horizontal plane and the bulb 24 will be lighted by reason of the points 26 being brought into contact withthespoints 28 in the casing part 31. Stopsv32ior other means may be employed to limit the movement of the handle 23 with the casing. Thusimy improved signal deviceserves-a dual purpose, namely, that of signaling thed'river s intention to turn, and ith at of a parking light. It will be observed that the signal elements for this purpose are arranged in a single casing in a'novel'manner, and-that the casing is anounted'upon and at the exterior of a vehicle for oscillation about a horizontal axis so that the respective signal elements may be moved to signal position at the will of thedriver. It will be further noted thatthe light bulb iscarried bythe same means whic-lrsupports'the casing, and that the light circuit is opened i and closed by the operation of oscillating the casing. The'flat cylindrical formof the .casing .is

itaken advantage of by using the edgewise projection for a park1ng;s1gna1, WllIClliIlGGCl not be of alarming or ostentatious character, and using a broadside projection for a turn-signal, when a greater blaze of light is wanted to attract attention. l Vhen no signal is to be displayed, either the switch circuit is opened or the handle 26 will be moved to a position intermediate the contact members'28 in the contact casings 29 and 3i.

It is believed that the foregoing conveys a clearaunderstanding of the objects prefaced abovepand while I have illustrated but a single working embodiment, it should be understood that changes might be made in details of constructionwithoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claim.

I claim: A combination parking light and turnsignalfor automobiles comprising ahollow,

flat cylindrical casing, a tube for supporting said casing extending radially therefrom and terminating substantially centrally therein, an electric light bulb supported on the end ofsaid tube within said casing having wires extendin therefrom through said tube, a bearing for said tube, a handle on the free end of -said tube for oscillating the tube and casing relative to said bearing, contacting means'arranged in the oscillation of said tube to complete a circuit to light said bulb in ither a fore-and-aft edgewise projection or a fore-and-aft broadside projection of said casing, relatively small parking light signal windows in said casing displayed fore-andaft in theedgewise projection position of said'casm-g, and comparatively large turnsignal-signal wmdows in said casing (llS- played fore--and-aft in the-broadside projection position ofsaid casing.

ALFRED .ANDERSON. 

